Present Perfect Continuous

1. Definition & Core Meaning
The Present Perfect Continuous Tense describes an action that started in the past and is still continuing right now. It focuses on the duration (how long).

2. Use Cases - Why do we use it?
• Duration of an Ongoing Action: Emphasizing how long an action has been happening up to the present. I have been studying for 3 hours.
• Recent Actions with Visible Results: An action that just stopped, but you can see the result. (You look sweaty!) "Yes, I have been running."

3. When to Use It - Key Signals
Look for duration markers: for (length of time - for 2 hours), since (starting point - since 2015), all day, lately, recently.

4. How to Use It - Structural Formula
(+) Affirmative:
• I/You/We/They + have been + verb-ing --> We have been waiting.
• He/She/It + has been + verb-ing --> She has been reading.

(-) Negative:
• Subject + haven't/hasn't + been + verb-ing --> I haven't been feeling well.

(?) Question:
• Have/Has + Subject + been + verb-ing? --> How long have you been studying?